Hi guys, I just picked up a 1971 this week. It’s not my first ford by any means but it is the oldest and my first venture into a classic car project. I’ve come here to seek help advice and to share the journey.

The specs:
1971 5.9 360 2wd, long bed with a C6 auto tranny. It may have been a Custom trim level, there are some mounting holes in the rear of the bed that are missing emblems that maybe were the “Custom” emblems.

The Good:
The truck runs very well. The shifts are smooth, the idle is very smooth. No sputtering or struggles while driving. Most of the body is original (including the paint). Im the 4th owner and the miles read 82k, but one could never be sure about that lol.

The Bad:
Rusty roof and some of the floor boards. It’s okay though, I live in San Diego and have the advantage of taking it to less expensive shops across the border.

Theres a transmission leak that I was aware of, the PO believed it to be the seal where the engine and trans meet, but after crawling under I’m 90% sure it’s actually from the pan and the other parts around the pan. I will be changing those gaskets soon now that I know I have the C6.

The water pump leaks after the truck heats up. That’s the main reason I’m here. I’m going to change the water pump, but what else should I change while I have all that stuff on the front disassembled? I’ll change the upper and lower radiator hoses as they look brittle. What else? What other hoses should I change out? And what other parts? Should I change the thermostat while I’m there? And which pump would you guys recommend? I’m looking to use rockauto, any other sites you guys recommend more for parts?

thanks! I’ll post pics later and I’ll be back in this thread with more questions

 

Here are a few pics of the truck. It doesn’t have a name yet so I need to figure that out also. Aside from the roof the body is pretty solid.



I’m trying to get rid of that black paint on the grill

 

The truck looks straight and looks good. The roof definitely looks bad. Welcome to the forum. Your truck most likely has the sport custom trim level. The custom level has no trim, thats how my 72 f250 is and my 70 f250 is sport custom which has body trim like yours. As for the transmission, where is the fluid leaking from? There only a few places it can leak, the pan, the bell housing, or the linkage. If it coming out of the bell housing, there is the front seal behind the torque converter. The pan gasket is easy, but you usually have to hammer all the bolt holes on the pan flat again and do not over tighten it or it will probably leak. Leaks from the linkage are more involved. There is an o-ring and a seal in there.

 

I’m pretty sure it is from the pan and from the shifter lever seal. When I got under it those are the two areas that have pooling of red fluid. Everything else under there around the trans (aside from road grime) is pretty clean. I watched a YouTube video and Its something I can take on. I was looking into a complete kit and found this in eBay. I like the convenience of it all but I’m not sure of the quality. Am I better off piercing one together off of rock auto or summit racing?

 

When I replaced the seal and o-ring on my 70 f250, that was all I was doing. So, I only ordered the two parts.

 

Not so fast on the trim level. Ford allowed special orders to be able to go up one trim level to order trim items. That was how my dad got a Sport Custom seat (thicker foam) at a Custom trim level for our 72 F-100. Only a Marti Report will know for sure.

 

I didn’t know what a Marti report was. I think I’m going to order one, I do want to know the factory specs for this specific truck. Thanks!

 

Also I just wanted some more advice on my water pump situation, since I’m going to get in there and change it, is there anything I should do while having everything up front disassembled? I’m going to do the pump, upper and lower radiator hoses since they’re looking brittle. Anything else you guys recommend? Thermostat?

the thing is due to the trans leak and the water pump leak I haven’t felt confident enough to put a lot of drive time on it. So I didn’t know what else to diagnose right now. It runs and idles strong though. I figure something inexpensive like a thermostat, I might as well change while I have that area clear.

Any advice there?

 

If you’re going in for a water pump you might think about doing a timing set. Its cheap. If it’s got an original gear set on it, its likely the plastic teeth are ready to break off.

Nice truck!

 

Oooh I don’t know about that. I can change the parts easy enough but I’ve never messed with timing. I suppose off to YouTube I go lol

 

I need some help guys. In the process of changing the gaskets in the transmission pan plus seals etc. when I got to this part I think something is off or missing. There was a zip tie that I couldn’t figure out what purpose it was serving so I clipped it off, but the piece circled in my pic is loosely hanging there. The video I’m following from YouTube seems to have this piece securely in place at a higher level.

Is something missing or is it okay for that piece to just dangle at that level? I appreciate any help. I may pause the project in hopes of a response.

 

That is probably where your kickdown rod hooks up. From there it goes up to the carburetor.

 

Here is a diagram that shows the kickdown for the C6 transmission: Item 7A187

 

Thanks for sharing the part. I guess it’s not really all that necessary to have it connected. The tranny just won’t downshift when I want to pass someone. I will replace it eventually, but is there any potential harm to the transmission right now having that arm just dangling unsecure

 

Chokoloso A easy way to get rid of the paint on the grill is use Easy-Off over cleaner just remove the grill first if you use it and it needs to be the yellow can. Or take some lacquer thinner and a old t-shirt wet the shirt and start wiping. Now either method is not gonna get all of it off right away , but it will take the paint off. There is always sanding but if your grill is aluminum I Really Don't recommend it.